Stage 3 - September 26: Objat - Objat, 174.3 km

Gilbert, Gerrans, De Kort and Berthou bring fresh air into cycling

There are some interesting symbols in cycling: just a few kilometres away from
the hotel where the Festina team got to know they were kicked out of the 1998
Tour de France, and during the weekend chosen by Richard Virenque for announcing
his retirement from cycling, a new generation seems ready to take over.

A trio composed of Freddy Bichot, Benoît Vaugrenard and Australian stagiaire
Ashley Humbert did the hard work for 110 kilometres until an attack by Christophe
Moreau smashed the bunch into pieces. Then Sandy Casar, Nicolas Vogondy and
Nicolas Fritsch controlled the action. "They have done such a great job, it's
their win more than mine," Gilbert commented. "No one with only 16 seconds advantage
could say the race was won for sure, but I was strong and I knew that I wouldn't
get dropped."

Finishing 1'14 behind Berthou, closely followed by Ruskys and Renier, there
were no worries for Gilbert. Aged 22, he would still be in the U23 category
for the world championship if not a member of big pro team, but he will be one
of the top riders for the Belgian selection in the highest category next week
in Verona. He will defend his national colours for the sixth time in a row after
racing as a junior in Plouay 2000, as an espoir in Lisbon 2001 and Zolder 2002,
as a pro in Hamilton 2003 and as an Olympian last month in Athens.

Philippe Gilbert is an always-smiling Walloon hailing from Remouchamps, right
on the course of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He grew up at the foot of the famous
climb of La Redoute and picked a fantastic passion for cycling. "For me, riding
my bike for six and half hours when it's cold in the Ardennes is never a problem,"
he said.

Gilbert recently finished 2nd in Paris-Brussels and GP Wallonie and he was
chasing a second win this year after the first one taken in Victor Harbour at
the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. That day he was in a breakaway with Simon
Gerrans who had no future in professional cycling at the time. Since then, the
Victorian joined Team U Nantes-Atlantique in France and signed with Ag2r. He
made his new director Vincent Lavenu more than happy with a second place behind
Gilbert in Paris-Corrèze. "This is a perfect recruit for our team," Lavenu said.
Gerrans also justified the confidence put in him by Australian selectors Shayne
Bannan and Neil Stephens for next week's World Championship.

The third man on the final podium is also someone to watch for the future:
Koen de Kort recently scored a fabulous win at the GP Eddy Merckx with other
Dutch prodigy Thomas Dekker but there aren't enough spots available inside Rabobank's
top team, that's why he'll move to Spain next year and turn pro with Liberty
Seguros.

Being held at the end of the season, Paris-Corrèze has become an event for
future champions. The first winner was Thor Hushovd in 2002 and Baden Cooke
succeeded him before becoming stars of the Tour de France. But the race organised
by former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon will move to August next year
and will finish in Chaumeil, a place known for being the hot bed of post-Tour
criteriums in the past.